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Zapico SC, Stadler C, Roca G. Assessment of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions. J Forensic Sci 2024; 69:631-639. [PMID: 38146797 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Despite current advances in body fluid identification, there are few studies evaluating the effect of environmental conditions. The present work assessed the detection of body fluids, blood, semen, and saliva, through lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests, exposed to tropical weather conditions over time, also evaluating the possibility of obtaining STR (short tandem repeat) profiles and identifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms. Blood, semen, saliva samples, and mixtures of these fluids were deposited on polyester clothes and exposed to open-air tropical weather conditions for 1 month. The test versions from LFI (SERATEC®, Germany) Lab and crime scene (CS) used for the detection - one per each body fluid type - demonstrated that it is possible to identify body fluids and their mixtures up to 14 days after deposition. At 30 days, blood and semen were detected but not saliva. Full STR profiles were obtained from 14-day-old blood samples, and partial profiles were obtained from the remaining samples. It was possible to sequence mtDNA in the samples previously analyzed for STR profiling, and haplogroups could be assigned. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time the possibility of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions for 1 month and also demonstrated the value of mtDNA analysis for compromised biological evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Zapico
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Anthropology Department, Laboratories of Analytical Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Gabriela Roca
- SERATEC®, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH, Göttingen, Germany
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Zapico SC, Roca G. Making the Most of Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Tests: An Efficient Protocol to Recover DNA. Methods Protoc 2024; 7:8. [PMID: 38251201 PMCID: PMC10801598 DOI: 10.3390/mps7010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests are widely used in both biomedical and forensic sciences for different applications. In forensic sciences, their main use is to detect body fluids at crime scenes. However, there are situations in which the amount of potential biological evidence is so low that DNA extraction is favored with respect to the identification of body fluids. Here, an efficient and quick protocol is presented to integrate the detection of body fluids through LFI with DNA extraction from a sample swab and buffer, providing a complete characterization of the biological evidence. This protocol is a modification of a general DNA extraction silica-based kit, whose main application is for blood and tissues. Thus, it could be carried out in different settings (forensic labs, hospitals, other testing labs) without the necessity of buying a specific kit for swabs. The validation of this protocol is supported by the results presented here and previous publications from our group, obtaining DNA in good quantity and with good quality. This proves the potential application of the protocol in both forensic scenarios, to fully characterize biological evidence, and biomedical settings, to molecularly confirm the results of LFI tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C. Zapico
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Anthropology Department and Laboratories of Analytical Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - Gabriela Roca
- SERATEC Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH, 37079 Göttingen, Germany;
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C Zapico S, Roca G. A spit in time: identification of saliva stains and assessment of total DNA recovery up to 180 days after deposition. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023:10.1007/s12024-023-00691-6. [PMID: 37581750 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00691-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
The main aim of this work was to validate the detection of saliva samples from denim, cotton, and polyester fabrics aged up to six months, applying rapid immunochromatographic tests resulting in the analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA recovered. A comparison was also carried out between two saliva detection tests, Laboratory and Crime Scene. 50 μl saliva samples (three per time and test) were deposited on denim, cotton, and polyester fabrics. After 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 90, 150, and 180 days of storage at room temperature, the samples were recovered by swabbing and detected by SERATEC® Amylase (Laboratory) test and SERATEC® SALIVA CS (Crime Scene) test (SERATEC®, Göttingen, Germany). DNA was isolated from the swab extraction buffer applying a silica-based methodology, and quantified based on fluorescent and human-specific quantifications. Then, it was submitted to STR profiling and mtDNA sequencing. According to our results, saliva stains up to six months after deposition remain valid specimens. The intensity of the bands varied among fabric type and time. Total DNA was successfully recovered from all tested samples, though with the limitations of obtaining partial nuclear DNA profiles from the oldest samples. In contrast, complete characterization of mtDNA was achieved from all samples. Lab and CS tests performed similar on the detection of saliva, as well as, DNA yield and profiling. Future research will be able to expand these results, analyzing the stability of other body fluids and the sensitivity of rapid immunochromatographic tests to detect them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Zapico
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 161 Warren Street, Tiernan Hall, 365, Newark, New Jersey, 07102, USA.
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Department, 10th and Constitution Ave, PO 37012, NW, 20560, Washington DC, USA.
| | - Gabriela Roca
- SERATEC®, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH. Ernst-Ruhstrat-Strasse 5, Göttingen, 37079, Germany
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C. Zapico S, Dytso A, Rubio L, Roca G. The Perfect Match: Assessment of Sample Collection Efficiency for Immunological and Molecular Findings in Different Types of Fabrics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810686. [PMID: 36142599 PMCID: PMC9502974 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Body fluid identification at crime scenes can be crucial in retrieving the appropriate evidence that leads to the perpetrator and, in some cases, the victim. For this purpose, immunochromatographic tests are simple, fast and suitable for crime scenes. The potential sample is retrieved with a swab, normally a cotton swab, moistened in a specific buffer. Nonetheless, there are other swab types available, which have been proven to be efficient for DNA isolation and analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of different swab types for body fluid identification as well as DNA isolation and characterization. Fifty microliters of human saliva were deposited in three different types of fabric (denim, cotton, and polyester). After 24 h at room temperature, samples were recovered by applying three different swab types, and the tests were performed. Subsequently, total DNA was recovered from the sample buffer. Cotton swabs performed worse in denim and cotton fabrics in both immunochromatography tests and DNA yield. No differences were observed for polyester. In contrast, and except for two replicates, it was possible to obtain a full DNA profile per fabric and swab type, and to identify the mtDNA haplogroup. In this paper, the impact of swab types on body fluid identification through the application of immunochromatographic tests is analyzed for the first time. This work corroborates previous research related to the influence of swab types in nuclear DNA isolation and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C. Zapico
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, 161 Warren Street, Tiernan Hall, 365, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Department, 10th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA
- Correspondence: or
| | - Alex Dytso
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Leticia Rubio
- Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, 161 Warren Street, Tiernan Hall, 365, Newark, NJ 07102, USA or
- Department of Human Anatomy and Legal Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Gabriela Roca
- SERATEC®, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH, Ernst-Ruhstrat-Strasse 5, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
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Yazdanian M, Karami S, Tahmasebi E, Alam M, Abbasi K, Rahbar M, Tebyaniyan H, Ranjbar R, Seifalian A, Yazdanian A. Dental Radiographic/Digital Radiography Technology along with Biological Agents in Human Identification. SCANNING 2022; 2022:5265912. [PMID: 35116089 PMCID: PMC8789467 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5265912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The heavy casualties associated with mass disasters necessitate substantial resources to be managed. The unexpectedly violent nature of such occurrences usually remains a problematic amount of victims that urgently require to be identified by a reliable and economical method. Conventional identification methods are inefficient in many cases such as plane crashes and fire accidents that have damaged the macrobiometric features such as fingerprints or faces. An appropriate recognition method for such cases should use features more resistant to destruction. Forensic dentistry provides the most appropriate available method for the successful identification of victims using careful techniques and precise data interpretation. Since bones and teeth are the most persistent parts of the demolished bodies in sudden mass disasters, scanning and radiographs are unrepeatable parts of forensic dentistry. Forensic dentistry as a scientific method of human remain identification has been considerably referred to be efficient in disasters. Forensic dentistry can be used for either "sex and age estimation," "Medical biotechnology techniques," or "identification with dental records," etc. The present review is aimed at discussing the development and implementation of forensic dentistry methods for human identification. For this object, the literature from the last decade has been searched for the innovations in forensic dentistry for human identification based on the PubMed database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Yazdanian
- Research Center for Prevention of Oral and Dental Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahryar Karami
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Tahmasebi
- Research Center for Prevention of Oral and Dental Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Alam
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamyar Abbasi
- Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Rahbar
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Hamid Tebyaniyan
- Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ranjbar
- Research Center for Prevention of Oral and Dental Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alexander Seifalian
- Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine Commercialization Centre (Ltd), The London Bioscience Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | - Alireza Yazdanian
- Department of Veterinary, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Meleti M, Cassi D, Vescovi P, Setti G, Pertinhez TA, Pezzi ME. Salivary biomarkers for diagnosis of systemic diseases and malignant tumors. A systematic review. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2020; 25:e299-e310. [PMID: 32040469 PMCID: PMC7103445 DOI: 10.4317/medoral.23355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Saliva evaluation could be a possible alternative to blood and/or tissue analyses, for researching specific molecules associated to the presence of systemic diseases and malignancies.
The present systematic review has been designed in order to answer to the question “are there significant associations between specific salivary biomarkers and diagnosis of systemic diseases or malignancies?”.
Material and Methods The Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement was used to guide the review.
The combinations of “saliva” and “systemic diseases” or “diagnosis” or “biomarkers” or “cancers” or “carcinoma” or “tumors”, were used to search Medline, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Endpoint of research has been set at May 2019.
Studies were classified into 3 groups according to the type of disease investigated for diagnosis: 1) malignant tumors; 2) neurologic diseases and 3) inflammatory/metabolic/cardiovascular diseases.
Assessment of quality has been assigned according to a series of questions proposed by the National Institute of Health. Level of evidence was assessed using the categories proposed in the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based medicine (CEMB) levels for diagnosis (2011).
Results Seventy-nine studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fifty-one (64%) investigated malignant tumors, 14 (17.5%) neurologic and 14 (18.5%) inflammatory/cardiovascular/metabolic diseases.
Among studies investigating malignant tumors, 12 (23.5%) were scored as “good” and 11 of these reported statistically significant associations between salivary molecules and pathology. Two and 5 studies were found to have a good quality, among those evaluating the association between salivary biomarkers and neurologic and inflammatory/metabolic/cardiovascular diseases, respectively.
Conclusions The present systematic review confirms the existence of some “good” quality evidence to support the role of peculiar salivary biomarkers for diagnosis of systemic diseases (e.g. lung cancer and EGFR). Key words:Salivary diagnostics, biomarkers, systemic diseases, malignant tumors, early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Meleti
- Centro Universitario di Odontoiatria Via Gramsci 14. 43126, Parma, Italy
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Analytical Aspects of the Implementation of Biomarkers in Clinical Transplantation. Ther Drug Monit 2016; 38 Suppl 1:S80-92. [PMID: 26418704 DOI: 10.1097/ftd.0000000000000230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In response to the urgent need for new reliable biomarkers to complement the guidance of the immunosuppressive therapy, a huge number of biomarker candidates to be implemented in clinical practice have been introduced to the transplant community. This includes a diverse range of molecules with very different molecular weights, chemical and physical properties, ex vivo stabilities, in vivo kinetic behaviors, and levels of similarity to other molecules, etc. In addition, a large body of different analytical techniques and assay protocols can be used to measure biomarkers. Sometimes, a complex software-based data evaluation is a prerequisite for appropriate interpretation of the results and for their reporting. Although some analytical procedures are of great value for research purposes, they may be too complex for implementation in a clinical setting. Whereas the proof of "fitness for purpose" is appropriate for validation of biomarker assays used in exploratory drug development studies, a higher level of analytical validation must be achieved and eventually advanced analytical performance might be necessary before diagnostic application in transplantation medicine. A high level of consistency of results between laboratories and between methods (if applicable) should be obtained and maintained to make biomarkers effective instruments in support of therapeutic decisions. This overview focuses on preanalytical and analytical aspects to be considered for the implementation of new biomarkers for adjusting immunosuppression in a clinical setting and highlights critical points to be addressed on the way to make them suitable as diagnostic tools. These include but are not limited to appropriate method validation, standardization, education, automation, and commercialization.
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Ngoensawat U, Rijiravanich P, Somasundrum M, Surareungchai W. Highly sensitive electrochemical detection of DNA hybridisation by coupling the chemical reduction of a redox label to the electrode reaction of a solution phase mediator. Analyst 2014; 139:5740-6. [PMID: 25262699 DOI: 10.1039/c4an01011f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have described a highly sensitive method for detecting DNA hybridisation using a redox-labeled stem loop probe. The redox labels were poly(styrene-co-acrylic) (PSA) spheres of 454 nm diameter, modified by methylene blue (MB) deposited alternatively with poly(sodium 4-styrene sulphonate) (PSS) in a layer-by-layer process. Each PSA sphere carried approx. 3.7 × 10(5) molecules of MB, as determined optically. DIG-tagged stem loop probes were immobilised on screen printed electrodes bearing anti-DIG antibodies. Binding with the target enabled straightening of the stem loop, which made attachment to the MB-coated PSA spheres possible. For measuring the current from the direct reduction of MB by differential pulse voltammetry, a 30 mer DNA target common to 70 strains of Escherichia coli was calibrated across the range 1.0 fM to 100 pM (gradient = 3.2 × 10(-8) A (log fM)(-1), r(2) = 0.95, n = 60), with an LOD of ∼58 fM. By using Fe(CN)6(3-/4-) as a solution phase mediator for the MB reduction, we were able to lower the LOD to ∼39 aM (gradient = 5.95 × 10(-8) A (log aM)(-1), r(2) = 0.96, n = 30), which corresponds to the detection of 0.76 ag (∼50 molecules) in the 2 μL analyte sample. We hypothesise that the lowering of the LOD was due to the fact that not all the MB labels were able to contact the electrode surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umphan Ngoensawat
- School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Khun Thian, Bangkok 10150, Thailand.
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